The government is considering plans to end coal burning by 2040 or 2050. In January, energy minister Sigmar Gabriel called for patience. He told a conference, in remarks quoted by Euractiv: “When one considers the future of coal, I would urge that you do so less from an ideological standpoint and to think more about the economic consequences.”

Those consequences include eliminating the fuel that still supplied 44% of power in 2014 and closing down lignite mines that employ thousands of Germans.

On the other hand, after 195 countries agreed a global warming pact in Paris last December, the industrialised nation is under pressure to chart a low carbon path.